In relation to fantasy, it ought to theoretically be fairly onerous to mess up. By definition, something goes in a fantastical realm, permitting film makers to convey their very own artistic contact to their tales and transport audiences to worlds which are a lot cooler and extra fascinating than our personal. Though it sounds onerous to mess up, a considerable quantity of movies have confirmed that it’d really be simpler than it sounds.

Many fantasy films which have come out since 1999 have fallen means beneath the mark, crashing and burning each with critics and on the field workplace. These are the worst fantasy films of the previous 25 years, which have earned their rightful locations on account of the truth that their worlds are alleged to be grand and fascinating, however come off as way more boring.

10 ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of 5 Armies’ (2014)

Directed by Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is extensively considered the best fantasy film sequence ever created. The Hobbit trilogy nevertheless, not a lot. The primary two films within the trilogy aren’t any comparability to the films that got here out ten years prior, however many followers discover them both good, passable, or disappointing. The third and remaining film nevertheless, was genuinely dangerous for anybody who watched it.

To its credit score, the titular battle is portrayed higher than it’s within the e-book by J. R. R. Tolkien. Within the novel, Bilbo (Martin Freeman) is knocked out, and does not regain consciousness till the battle is over, which is tremendous lame. No less than the film had the decency to really present the battle. The issue is, like its predecessors, there was simply means an excessive amount of fluff and padding, and the motion was tremendous cartoony. On high of that, the movie lacked a lot of the stylistic appeal that The Lord of the Rings had. The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies is not terrible, nevertheless it is not good both.

9 ‘Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters’ (2013)

Directed by Thor Freudenthal

The Percy Jackson films received off to a reasonably rocky begin with the discharge of the primary movie in 2010. This flick starred Logan Lerman, who was completely positive as Percy, if loads older than the character described within the authentic novels than Rick Riordan. There have been some cool sequences, however the film modified a lot that it was mainly unrecognizable from the novel. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters continued with that pattern, and barely resembled its supply materials.

At face worth, it has a promising premise, being in regards to the human youngsters of Greek gods and goddesses that stay and prepare at a camp to combat the forces of evil. Sadly, the films wasted this idea solely, with Sea of Monsters undoubtedly being the worst of the duology. In actual fact, it was so dangerous, that it halted any plans for a 3rd movie. As a substitute, ten years later, audiences had been handled to a Disney+ authentic TV sequence. Followers of the books ought to stick with that and neglect in regards to the lackluster film variations. The present is so a lot better and far more devoted.

8 ‘Alice By way of the Trying Glass’ (2016)

Directed by James Bobin

Tim Burton‘s 2010 movie Alice in Wonderland was a painfully common adaptation of Lewis Caroll‘s novel, although it nonetheless discovered its following on account of its darker tone and extra fashionable visible results. Perhaps it was due to this following that filmmakers thought a sequel can be a good suggestion. Thus, Alice By way of the Trying Glass was born, popping out six years after its predecessor.

One of many main gamers on this film, Johnny Depp, who performs the Mad Hatter, appears to know the way dangerous the movie is, as a result of his common enthusiasm and appeal that he beforehand delivered to the position is now not there. The primary criticisms stem from its virtually non-existent story, and from how poorly the characters had been handled, coming as shadows of their authentic selves. It was a film that quietly launched and was rapidly forgotten about. Even those that have seen it would probably have hassle remembering a single important factor from the film.

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7 ‘Eragon’ (2006)

Directed by Stefen Fangmeier

Eragon relies on a novel of the identical title by Christopher Paolini. Nonetheless, the novel is about 700 pages lengthy, and the film is simply 100 minutes long–there was simply no means this was going to be even remotely devoted to its supply. The story follows the titular Eragon (Ed Speelers), who finds a dragon egg within the mountains, throwing him right into a struggle between the resistance and the oppressive Broddring Empire. Besides the film did away with nearly each main plot level doable.

It additionally by no means included room for a sequel, as they resolved some plotlines that weren’t full till the second or third e-book, whereas different plotlines had been omitted fully. Worse nonetheless, on the finish, there may be zero sense of accomplishment, and it feels just like the characters did not obtain something. It was dealt with so poorly that it feels prefer it’s based mostly on a totally completely different e-book, leaving novel followers and fantasy followers completely upset in it.

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6 ‘The Seeker’ (2007)

Directed by David L. Cunningham

The Seeker may be very, very loosely based mostly on a 1973 novel by Susan Cooper, which is already the primary main flaw of dangerous film variations of novels. When films cannot even be bothered to at the very least attempt to adhere to the supply materials, it is virtually at all times a recipe for catastrophe. The opposite important flaw with the film was that there was little or no coronary heart and soul in it, and the dialogue was typically clunky and awkward.

That includes an adolescent who finds out he has been chosen to guide a campaign in opposition to the forces of evil, the story felt fairly much like about one million different tales already on the market, and ruined all the pieces that made the unique books distinctive. Foremost actor Alexander Ludwig actually provides it his all, however his efficiency couldn’t save this catastrophe of a film, and within the years since its launch, it has handed into obscurity, not often ever talked about anymore, even in passing.

5 ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ (2000)

Directed by Courtney Solomon

Simply take a second to have a look at the CGI for the 2000 Dungeons & Dragons film. Does this CGI suggest a film that oozes high quality and that’s value each second? When you answered “no,” you would be proper. Making a film based mostly on a tabletop RPG seems like a reasonably bizarre prospect, however to its credit score, it has seen some fairly good works, most notably the 2023 movie, which obtained rave opinions. The 2000 movie although, not a lot.

The actors within the film are proficient, to make certain, however that is just about the one factor going for it, as a result of all the pieces from the set design to the visible results to the costuming appears to be like extremely low-cost, virtually just like the folks engaged on the film did not care. They in all probability did care, but when they did, it does not present. Followers of the sport may simply give you a greater story of their imaginations or with their paper and pencil than the one the film delivered, so it is best to only keep away from it in any respect prices.

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4 ‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

Directed by James Wong

Dragonball Evolution is mainly easy methods to screw up an adaptation 101. It’s alleged to be based mostly on the Dragon Ball anime and manga sequence, however utilized among the most questionable casting selections conceivable. With it making the leap from cartoon to live-action, it modified the tone fully, and lacked something distinctive or new in any respect. And the script? Oh, that script… it was actually one thing else, and never in a great way.

An enormous downside is that it went via improvement hell for some time, which is nearly by no means signal for a film, as a result of it typically results in the crew behind the scenes changing into fatigued of engaged on the identical venture and chopping corners simply to see it via. This occurs to be precisely how the film feels. It additionally took itself means too critically to be an adaptation of a sequence that’s usually fairly uppity with loads of comedic facets, although not with out its severe moments. In brief, it is best to fake this film by no means occurred if you happen to’re a Dragon Ball fan, as a result of watching it would solely result in disappointment.

3 ‘Son of the Masks’ (2005)

Directed by Lawrence Guterman

Son of the Masks was alleged to be a sequel to the enduring 90s comedy flick The Masks starring Jim Carrey. Whereas the latter is a 90s traditional treasured by many, this sequel was really horrible, and it would not be incorrect to name it one of many worst films ever made. It is received plenty of the identical plot factors, following a person who finds a mysterious masks that turns him right into a wacky superhero-type character, solely this time, plotlines about Norse deities are thrown in for some purpose.

By far the worst a part of this sequel was that it lacked Jim Carrey, however apart from that, it’s horrifically unfunny, and at instances, simply plain horrific. A few of the visuals are clearly supposed to be humorous, however come off as insanely creepy, freaking out children and adults alike. It is bland, uninspired, boring, and downright traumatizing at instances. If it weren’t for the terrifying visuals that should be seen to be believed, this flick would not even hit the discount bin at a thrift retailer.

2 ‘Within the Identify of the King: A Dungeon Siege Story’ (2007)

Directed by Uwe Boll

Director Uwe Boll has by no means, ever made film, or at the very least hasn’t made one that’s based mostly on a online game. Sadly, films like that make up a hefty chunk of his filmography, Within the Identify of the King: A Dungeon Siege Story relies on the Dungeon Siege sequence of role-playing video video games. Or at the very least, allegedly it’s. Followers of the video games probably would not acknowledge it with how completely different it’s, although.

With how poorly this film was obtained, it is baffling that Boll thought it deserved not one, however two sequels. What’s much more baffling is that these sequels had been really higher than the primary. However that is not saying a lot as a result of the bar was so low it was virtually a tripping hazard on the backside of the Mariana Trench. Relaxation assured, these sequels are nonetheless terrible. In any case, the primary film is a testomony to how badly an actor like Jason Statham might be completely wasted on dangerous writing, and to how dangerous video game-to-movie variations can really be with the incorrect particular person on the helm.

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1 ‘The Final Airbender’ (2010)

Directed by M. Evening Shyamalan

Anybody unlucky sufficient to have seen The Final Airbender can have no doubts that it’s the worst fantasy film of the final 25 years, and probably even of all time. The film was made by M. Evening Shyamalan, who has produced some cinematic gems right here and there, however tends to be fairly inconsistent along with his work. The Final Airbender is by far the worst factor he has made. It was alleged to be based mostly on the favored Nickelodeon cartoon sequence Avatar: The Final Airbender, nevertheless it did away with nearly all the pieces that made the present so widespread.

The characters really feel completely overseas and alien when in comparison with how they had been initially conceived, shedding their standout persona traits, senses of humour, and common likability. The CGI was horrible, the costuming was unintentionally laughable, and the writing was unapologetically cringy. Many theatre-goers bodily walked out of the movie on the time of its launch, which is not any shock. The cartoon was meant for teenagers, however many adults get pleasure from it too. The film nevertheless, is supposed for nobody in any respect.

KEEP READING: 10 Worst Fantasy Films of the 2010s, Ranked